Frame construction system

ABSTRACT

A frame construction suitable for sash and frame constructions, including incorporation as a heavy duty construction for a rolling or sliding (patio) door, is provided with corner reinforcement and securement members to hold bevelled frame members in mutually secured relation. The preferred extruded frame section, being generally of aluminum, has an enclosed rectangular or other hollow, shaped profile between the opposed side flange members of the section. A symmetrical shaped metal angle piece or pieces is driven within the hollow core portion of the two hollow profile sections being joined. The angle pieces have resilient, reversed end portions with sharp edged terminations, that slide freely on being entered within a respective section, due to the resilience of the angle pieces, but lock into engaged relation on attempted withdrawal, due to the reversed attitude of the resilient end portions and their associated sharp edges, to secure the sections against disassembly. The use of duplex angle pieces imparts enhanced flexural stiffness to the joints. Provision is made to enable disassembly of the joints. When plastic frames are thus joined, angle pieces of organic plastic may be used, being adhered in place by way of cement, or by solvent or sonic welding, for a permanent joint.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION:

This invention is directed to a structural joint and in particular to aframe structural corner particularly suited for joining extrudedsections, such as door leaf frames.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION:

Extruded sections, particularly of plastic or aluminum, as well as rollformed plastic, aluminum and other sheet metal profiles enjoy widespreaduse, due to their weight advantage and ready availability. In their use,for fabricating sliding or rolling patio doors for instance, the joiningof the corners for the assembly and disassembly of a high qualityaluminum product entail the use of threaded fasteners which are labourintensive. Furthermore, the capability of unwarranted or accidentaldisassembly always exists, which is not necessarily desirable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION:

The present invention provides a frame construction of extruded, rollformed or fabricated profile section having interconnecting cornermembers permitting permanent connection by sliding assembly.

In a preferred embodiment of this invention there is provided a jointfor joining a first frame member to a second frame member, wherein theframe members are of profiled hollow section terminating in mutuallybevelled planar relation, with complementary angles of bevel to form ajoint having a predetermined angle between the members thereof. Theprofile sections form mutually inclined channels having wall portions ofthe respective channels in mutual, substantially adjoining relation; ajoining member for insertion within the channels in oriented relationtherein; the joining member having a first pair of leg portions mutuallyinclined to enter a respective channel, each leg portion having areversely inclined foot portion extending in inclined relation acrossthat channel, the joining member leg portions being slideable axiallywithin the respective channel, having an inclined edge portion of eachfoot portion engaging an inner surface wall portion of the respectivechannel, to preclude withdrawal of each leg portion from the respectivechannel, thus retaining the frame members in secured, joined relation.

The leg portions of the joining member are located in joining relationbetween two adjoining wall portions of the respective channels.

Each of the noted mutually inclined channels of the frame members haslaterally opposed side wall portions substantially defining thethickness of the respective frame member and at least one transversewall portion extending laterally in joining relation between the sidewall portions; and at least one other channel-defining transverse wallportion extending in spaced relation from the above referred totransverse wall, to contain the joining member in oriented, securedrelation within the channel.

In the preferred embodiment the frame members are of extruded sectionchannel being substantially rectangular, and are closed rectangles.

It will, however, be understood that continuous frame units of hollowprofile may include tubular, round, oval, rectangular or otherconfigurations, which may be extruded in plastic, aluminum or otherferrous or non-ferrous metals. Such profile sections may be roll-formed,brake bent or press formed.

Alternative embodiments are contemplated wherein the channel sectionscomprise an open channel having three walls thereof in mutual joinedrelation in the form of a U-shape and a fourth wall portion located inpartial closing relation with the mouth of the U-shape, so as to containthe joining member when inserted therein in transversely constrainedrelation, with the respective foot edge portion thereof constituting acutting edge held in compressed engaging relation with an inner surfaceportion of one of the channel walls.

The preferred frame construction generally comprises extruded sectionforming the frame members, positioned substantially at right angles toeach other and having transversely extending first wall portion of thechannels at the juncture thereof in mutual adjacent relation, with legportions of a joining member extending along the channel wall portionsand held in flush contacting relation with the respective first wallportions by reaction forces generated by the respective foot portions ofthe joining member in contacting relation with section wall interiorsurface portions, against which the inclined edge portion of arespective foot portion bear in engaging relation therewith.

In assembly of a patio door having its frame members at right angles toeach other, a subject frame can be assembled, a corner joint at a timeto form a U-shape, and the closing frame member, having a joining memberinserted within each end thereof can then be readily slid into place tocomplete the frame.

Disassembly of the frame is made possible by the provision of accessslots, permitting the insertion of a tool, for disengaging the cuttingedge of the foot edge portion of the joining member.

It has been found in the case of the frame joining members that the useof a stainless steel strapping appropriately sized in width to slidereadily within the extruded frame section, and of a thickness to providestiff foot and leg portions, having the ends of the foot portionssheared normal thereto, provides a substantially perfect anchoringaction, in that the sheared edge, while sliding readily inwardly alongthe inner surface of an extruded aluminum channel due to its reverselyinclined attitude, to enable comparatively easy hand insertion therein,constitutes a cutting edge that abruptly digs into the aluminum orplastiC surface in anchoring relation thereto upon attempted reversemovement of the joining member along the section channel. The joiningmember has no observable lost motion in this regard, so that a tightpermanent joint is effected.

In the case of plastic frame sections utilizing plastic joining membersa permanent joint is achieved using glue or solvent welding orultra-sonic welding.

It will also be understood that frame configurations, while mostfrequently of rectangular form, may as readily be triangular, polygonalor of other geometric configuration.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:

Certain embodiments of the invention are described, which are forpurposes of illustration and not in any sense of limitation, referencebeing made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation sectioned as at 1--1 of FIG. 2, of a framecorner joint having the components thereof in exploded relation;

FIG. 2 is a section taken at 2--2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 1, showing a modified embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a section taken at 4--4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a view corresponding to FIG. 1, having the frame corner inassembled relation;

FIG. 6 is a schematic elevation of a frame (foreshortened);

FIG. 7 is an end elevation of the joint of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing a modified sectionembodiment;

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 4 of a further section embodiment;

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 5 of a portion of a polygonal frameconstruction; and

FIGS. 11a, 11b, 11c, 11d, 11e and 11f illustrate alternative profilesections that may be utilized in carrying out the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS:

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 6, frame 20 has corner assemblies 22, at thejuncture of frame side members 24,24 and upper and lower rail members26,26.

A joining member 28 serves to secure the rail 26 and frame side member24 in permanently secured relation.

The joining member 28 is of an open W-form, the angle A beingsubstantially 90%, the angles B generally being about 45%. While notcritical, the angle B requires to be less than 90%, and to be such thatthe sheared edges 30 make effective cutting contact with the respectiveinner surfaces 34,36 of the members 24,26.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 the side members 24,26 each comprise anextruded section, the section having side plate portions 40,42, withtransversely extending web members 44,46 in joining relationtherebetween.

It will be understood that the channel 47 thus formed will constitute acontinuous, totally enclosed channel extending about the frame 20,having the respective channel wall members in adjoining relation (seeFIG. 5).

FIG. 8 illustrates a similar but modified section profile.

In the FIG. 3, FIG. 4 and FIG. 9 embodiments, the sections 50,50,constitute open channels, having side walls 40,42 web wall 44, andpartial web walls 46.

Also illustrated is a reinforcement member 29 which complements andbraces the joint member 28 and also improves the lateral flexuralstiffness of the joint assembly 55.

FIG. 7, shows one form of access slot 60 in the web wall 44 by means ofwhich the cutting edge 30 of joining member 28 can be pried inwardly andreleased from jamming engagement with the inner surface 34 of web wall44.

In order to assemble the frame 20 of FIG. 6 two of the joints 22 can beassembled individually. Alternatively, the connectors 28 can be fullyinserted into both ends of a frame member such as bottom rail 26 and,with side members 24 suitably located in spaced mutually parallel,oriented relations, the free legs of connectors 20 can be slid into therespective channels 47 and the rail 26 tapped fully into closingrelation with the side members 24. The other rail 26, namely the toprail 26 is then similarly assembled to the side members 24, and theframe 20 is thus completed. Alternatively, the first two joints 22 canbe made individually, if so desired. It is the last two joints thatrequire to be assembled simultaneously.

Referring to FIG. 11, these six additional section profiles areillustrative of further sections that may be used, in practicing theinvention.

In FIG. 10 polygonal construction is illustrative of the use of thepresent invention in a geometric, nonrectangular frame.

In carrying out the assembly of differing frame configurations, therespective side members of which are mutually inclined other than atright-angles as in the case of the FIG. 10 polygonal construction, theforegoing assembly procedure may require to be modified. In the extremeit may prove desirable or even necessary to assemble all jointssimultaneously, symmetrically and uniformly.

The assembly of frame joints is facilitated by the flexibility of thejoining member 28, and the slenderness thereof, both of thesecharacteristics permitting considerable temporary elastic deformationduring the assembly process. In the FIG. 10 embodiment the includedangle of joining member 28 is substantially the same as thecorresponding angle between respective adjoining members 24.

It will be understood that changes may be made to the disclosedembodiments, within the scope of the following claims.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:
 1. In an aperture closingframe construction, a corner joint having a first frame member and asecond frame member, each member being of hollow closed sectionterminating in mutually bevelled planar relation, with complementaryangles of bevel, to form a tight, abutting joint having a predeterminedincluded angle therebetween; the extruded sections forming mutuallyincluded closed channels having wall portions of the respective channelsin mutual substantially adjoining relation to provide substantiallycontinuous inner peripheral and outer peripheral surfaces; a joiningmember for insertion within said channels in oriented relationtherebetween, comprising a planar strip having four adjoining, mutuallyinclined leg portions to provide a resilient open W-form, the centre legportions of the W-form abutting a said section peripheral; surface incorner maintaining relation therewith; the other leg portions of saidresilient W-form each extending in inclined pressing relation against arespective other said peripheral surface and having a sharp,transversely extending edge portion to contact said other peripheralsurface in effective cutting contact therewith, to jam said W-form innonwithdrawable, corner maintaining relation therewith, so as to retainsaid frame members in secured, joined relation; the at least oneelongated access slot in a said frame member and penetrating saidsection outer peripheral surface, in use to permit the insertion of atool therein, to disengage said joining member from said cuttingrelation with said channel inner surface and permit withdrawal of saidjoining member therefrom.